METHOD FOR FILLING A CARTRIDGE WITH FLUID AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING SAME

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for filling a cartridge (3) open on one side with a fluid by placing the cartridge in fluid-transferring connection with an outflow aperture (8) of a container (2) filled with the fluid (4). The container further comprises a venting aperture (7) and at least one of the two apertures is closable. The closable aperture(s) is opened until a determined quantity of the fluid has flowed from the container into the cartridge, and finally the connection between the cartridge and the container is broken. The invention further relates to a system for performing this method provided with a cartridge open on one side and a container which is filled with fluid and has an outflow aperture and a venting aperture, wherein the outflow aperture or the venting aperture has closing means. The closing means are formed by a closing member which is arranged near the aperture to be closed and which is biased to a position closing the aperture and movable to a second position opening the aperture, and which hasan actuating part.

Description: METHOD FOR FILLING A CARTRIDGE WITH FLUID AND SYSTEM FOR PERFORMING SAME The invention relates to a method for filling a cartridge with fluid and a system for performing this me¬ thod. Fluid-filled cartridges are generally known and are for instance used as ink cartridges in writing imple¬ ments. The known cartridges are generally not refillable and after being filled with fluid during a production process they are sealed, for example by welding. The seal is broken, for instance bored through, when the cartridge is placed in the writing implement. The cartridge can then no longer be re-closed. Refillable systems are known, for instance ink pens wherein a cartridge is suction filled with ink, for instance by means of a piston system. Such a system is quite complicated and therefore too costly to be applied in wri¬ ting implements in a relatively low price class. The invention now has for its object to provide a new method for filling a cartridge open on at least one side with a fluid such as ink. In the method according to the invention the cartridge is placed for this purpose in fluid- transferring connection with an outflow aperture of a con¬ tainer at least partially filled with the fluid, which container is further provided with a venting aperture, wherein at least one of the apertures is closable, the closable aperture is subsequently opened until a determined quantity of fluid has flown from the container into the cartridge, and finally the connection between the cartridge and the container is broken. A cartridge can thus be filled or refilled in simple and inexpensive manner. In preference the closable aperture is the outflow aperture, and this latter is opened by placing the cartridge in contact therewith. The filling operation thus becomes very simple. When the closable aperture is the venting aperture and can only be opened when the cartridge is connected to the container, escape of fluid out of the container is prevented. The cartridge is preferably connected to the underside of the container. The fluid transfer is thus en- hanced by the force of gravity. When the container is manufactured from resilient- ly flexible material and is pressed in when the cartridge is connected to the container, the speed at which the cartridge is filled with fluid can be increased considerably. The invention has for its further object to provi¬ de a system with which the above described method can be performed in simple manner. The system according to the invention comprises for this purpose at least one cartridge open on at least one side and at least one container, which container is at least partially filled with fluid, and has at least one outflow aperture and at least one venting aperture, wherein at least the outflow aperture and/or the venting aperture has closing means co-acting therewith. In a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention the closing means are formed by a closing member which is arranged near the aperture to be closed and which is movable between a first position closing the aper¬ ture and a second position opening the aperture, and which has an actuating part, and by biasing means for urging the closing member to the first position. The relevant aperture can thus be opened and closed in simple manner. Preferably, the outflow aperture is closable and the actuating part co-acts with a part of the cartridge. A system is thus obtained which is simple to use. The cartridge preferably also comprises a closing element which is movable between a first position in which it closes the open side of the cartridge and a second posi¬ tion in which it leaves clear the open side, and which has an actuating part co-acting with a part of the container in addition to biasing means for urging the closing element to its first position. Leakage of the cartridge can thus be prevented. When the venting aperture is closable and the actuating part is accessible from the outside of the contai¬ ner, a good protection against leakage is likewise obtained. The closing means preferably comprise a resilient- ly flexible, perforated membrane. The closing and biasing function can thus be combined. When the container is at least partially manufac¬ tured from a resiliently flexible material the fluid can be easily injected into the cartridge by squeezing the contai- ner. The invention is now elucidated in the light of two embodiments, wherein reference is made to the annexed drawing, in which corresponding components are designated with corresponding reference numerals, and in which: fig. 1 shows a cross sectional perspective view of a first embodiment of the filling system according to the invention prior to a filling operation, fig. 2 is a view of the system of fig. 1 during filling, fig. 3 is a view corresponding with fig. 1 of a second embodiment of the system according to the invention, fig. 4 is a view corresponding with fig. 2 of the filling system shown in fig. 3, fig. 5 shows a completely filled cartridge, fig. 6 is a cross sectional detail view of an alternative embodiment of the cartridge, and fig. 7 shows a cross section through fig. 6 along the line VII-VII. A filling system 1 (fig. 1) comprises a container 2 and a cartridge 3. Container 2 is at least partially filled with a fluid 4, for instance ink, and has on its underside an outflow aperture 6. Container 2 further has a venting aperture 7 which is located above the highest level of the fluid 4. Outflow aperture 6 is connected via a passa- ge 8 to the interior of container 2. As seen from the inte¬ rior of container 2 the outflow passage 8 has first a narro¬ wing, funnel-like portion in which is accommodated a chamfe¬ red head 9 of a closing member 10. This latter further comprises a stem-like actuating part 11. Closing member 10 is held in the first position closing the outflow passage 8 by means of biasing means in the form of a resiliently flexible membrane 12. The membrane 12 has passage openings 13 which connect the outflow passage 8 and the interior of containers 2. In order to increase the leak-tightness of container 2 ribs (not shown here) can be further arranged in the funnel-like portion of outflow passage 8, which ribs can be placed in register with the passage openings 13, thus making fluid transfer between the interior of container 2 and outflow passage 8 impossible when the closing member 9 occupies its shown position closing off the outflow passage 8. The outer side 17 of outflow passage 8 is tapering and has a number of straight ribs 18. The cartridge 3, which in the embodiment shown is formed integrally with a fountain pen 14, is open on its end 16 remote from a point 15 of the pen. A receiving part 19 with tapering ribs 20 is arranged in the open side 16. The tapering of ribs 20 corresponds with that of the outer side 17 of outflow passage 8 of container 2. The receiving part 19 has an end ring 21 which defines an inflow opening 22 of small diameter. Arranged between inflow opening 22 and the interior of cartridge 3 is a closing element 23 which is formed by a resiliently flexible membrane 24 in which are formed passage openings 25 which in the shown position of element 23 are covered by the end ring 21. Closing element 23 further comprises a protruding actuating part 26. Closing element 23 is clamped between receiving part 19 and a ring 27 which has on its side facing toward the interior of cartridge 3 a spherical segment-shaped recess 28 for recei¬ ving a spherical floating body 29 present in cartridge 3. In the interior of the cartridge can be arranged a body 30 with capillary action as described in the Netherlands patent application 9300709 of applicant. Cartridge 3 can however also be a conventional cartridge. Like the outflow aperture 6 the venting aperture 7 of container 2 can also be provided with closing means. In the embodiment shown these take the form of a resiliently flexible membrane 31 which extends over the whole diameter of container 2 and which is stretched along the rigid upper wall 32 of container 2 and defines a space 33 therewith. Membrane 31 has a number of passage openings 34 which con- nect the interior of container 2 to this space 33. Membrane 31 further has a double closing ring 35 which is pressed against the upper wall 32 of the container by the membrane tension and thus closes off the interior of container 2 from venting aperture 7. Membrane 31 also has an actuating part 36 which protrudes through the venting aperture and which in the shown embodiment is fixed to a sleeve 37 enclosing the container 2. Sleeve 37 and container 2 are displaceable slidably in relation to each other and one of the two can be fixedly arranged in for instance a frame. In the filling method according to the invention the cartridge 3 is placed under the container 2 and pressed upward until the receiving part 19 encloses the outflow passage 8 close-fittingly (fig. 2). This is simplified by the tapering form of both co-acting parts 8,19 which have self-centering effect. When cartridge 3 and container 2 are thus connected, both actuating parts 11 and 26 are in mutual contact, whereby the closing member 10 is pressed upward counter to the spring force of membrane 12 and unblocks outflow passage 8, while the closing element 23 is simulta- neously pressed downward counter to the spring force of membrane 24 and thus unblocks the passage opening 25. A fluid communication is thus effected between container 2 and cartridge 3. Fluid is however only transferred when the venting aperture 7 of container 2 is opened. For this purpo- se the sleeve 37 and container 2 are moved toward each other, whereby the actuating button 36 connected to sleeve 37 presses in membrane 31, whereby the closing ring 35 is released from the upper wall 32 of container 2. Ambient air can thus reach the interior of container 2 via the space between sleeve 37 and container 2, the venting aperture 7, the space 33 between upper wall 32 and membrane 31 and the passage openings 33 and urge the fluid out of container 2 via outflow aperture 6. Venting aperture 7 can otherwise only be opened when a cartridge 3 is present to provide a certain back pressure. Leakage is thus prevented. The flow of fluid to cartridge 3 is enhanced by the force of gravity and can be further augmented by squeezing container 2, if this latter is manufactured at least partially of resilient¬ ly flexible material. Filling is interrupted or ended by removing the pressure of membrane 31 on actuating element 36 or by removing the back pressure by removing cartridge 3. Venting aperture 7 does not otherwise necessarily have to be closable if, as in the present embodiment, the outflow aperture 6 is also closable. What is important is that one of the two apertures can be closed. In the alternative embodiment of the filling system 1 according to the invention (fig. 3-5) only the venting apertures 7 can be closed by means of a flange 38 of sleeve 37. The outflow passage 8 herein has outflow apertu¬ res 6 debouching to the sides. The closing element 23 of cartridge 3 is held by a simple push spring 39 in its posi¬ tion closing the open side 16 of cartridge 3. In this embo- diment cartridge 3 otherwise has no capillary body. In an alternative embodiment cartridge 3 has an upper chamber 40 filled with the fluid and a capillary body 30 arranged thereunder. The upper chamber 40 and capillary body 30 are mutually separated by a wall 41 in which is arranged a star-shaped orifice through which protrudes a connecting or capillary element 42. Due to the star shape of the orifice the venting apertures 43 remain clear, also after insertion of element 42. Instead of the embodiments shown, wherein the clo- sure of the venting aperture(s) 7 is opened by means of a pressure mechanism, embodiments are of course also conceiva¬ ble wherein it is necessary to pull on the container 2 or a part thereof to allow air into container 2. This may be advantageous for instance when a mechanism with a control lever is applied. Although in the embodiments shown the cartridge 3 is in each case formed integrally with a fountain pen 14, the invention can of course also be applied with loose cartridges 3. *****

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Method for filling a cartridge open on at least one side with a fluid by placing the cartridge in fluid- transferring connection with an outflow aperture of a con¬ tainer at least partially filled with the fluid, which container is further provided with a venting aperture, wherein at least one of the apertures is closable, opening the closable aperture(s) until a determined quantity of the fluid has flown from the container into the cartridge, and finally breaking the connection between the cartridge and the container. 2. Method as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the closable aperture is the outflow aperture, and this is opened by placing the cartridge in contact therewith. 3. Method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characteri- zed in that the closable aperture is the venting aperture and can only be opened when the cartridge is connected to the container. 4. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the cartridge is connected to the underside of the container. 5. Method as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the container is manufactured from resiliently flexible material and is pressed in when the cartridge is connected to the container. 6. System for performing the method as claimed in any of the claims 1-5, comprising at least one cartridge open on at least one side and at least one container, which container is at least partially filled with fluid, and has at least one outflow aperture and at least one venting aperture, wherein at least the outflow aperture and/or the venting aperture has closing means co-acting therewith. 7. System as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the closing means are formed by a closing member which is arranged near the aperture to be closed and which is movable between a first position closing the aperture and a second position opening the aperture, and which has an actuating part, and by biasing means for urging the closing member to the first position. 8. System as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the outflow aperture is closable and the actuating part co-acts with a part of the cartridge. 9. System as claimed in any of the claims 6-8, characterized in that the cartridge comprises a closing element which is movable between a first position in which it closes the open side of the cartridge and a second posi¬ tion in which it leaves clear the open side, and which has an actuating part co-acting with a part of the container in addition to biasing means for urging the closing element to its first position. 10. System as claimed in any of the claims 6-9, characterized in that the venting aperture is closable and the actuating part is accessible from the outside of the container. 11. System as claimed in any of the claims 6-10, characterized in that the closing means comprise a resil¬ iently flexible, perforated member. 12. System as claimed in any of the claims 6-11, characterized in that the container is at least partially manufactured from resiliently flexible material. 13. Container evidently intended for use in a system as claimed in any of the claims 6-12. 14. Cartridge evidently intended for use in a system as claimed in any of the claims 6-12. *****

Inventors: KELDERS JOHANNES HUBERTUS JOZE, KELDERS, JOHANNES, HUBERTUS, JOZEF, MARIA
Applicants: KELDERS JOHANNES HUBERTUS JOZE, RAYCAP BV, KELDERS, JOHANNES, HUBERTUS, JOZEF, MARIA, RAYCAP B.V.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B43K11
IPC codes: B43K11